At Wexas our aim is simple – to help you create your perfect tailor-made holiday, and to organise it flawlessly. Whether you’re interested in wildlife, culture, adventure or relaxation, our destination specialists are on hand to help you arrange every element of your holiday, right down to the smallest detail, and all tailored to suit your own, individual requirements. That, after all, is the beauty of tailor-made travel. You decide where you want to go, how long for, what to see and who to see it with. The rest is taken care of by us. I established Wexas Travel in 1970, and, over the past four- and-a-half decades, I’ve had the pleasure of watching the company grow from a small, independent operator, to one of the UK’s most respected travel companies, one endorsed by honorary presidents including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Kate Adie, John Simpson and Michael Palin. It’s a great source of pride that, to this day, Wexas remains a privately owned, family business. A fact that enables us to put you, our customer, at the heart of everything we do. Once you’ve browsed this brochure, give us a call. Our team of usa specialists are waiting to hear from you. Dr Ian Wilson Founder & Chairman Honorary Presidents Kate Adie . Prof David Bellamy . Col John Blashford-Snell Dr Jean-Michel Cousteau . William Dalrymple . Sir Ranulph Fiennes Clare Francis . Robin Hanbury-Tenison . Sir Robin Knox-Johnston Sir Christopher Ondaatje . Michael Palin . Prof John Prebble Dr Christopher Roads . Jonathan Scott . John Simpson Colin Thubron . Sir Crispin Tickell . Sir Hereward Wake wexas.com CONTENTS California Canyons & National Parks Rockies, Ranches & National Parks Texas The Deep South & The Carolinas Florida Capital Region New York State New England The Great Lakes Pacific Northwest Hawaii 020 7838 5957 INTRODUCING WEXAS TRAVEL Wexas is one of the uk’s most respected travel companies, specialising in luxury tailor-made travel to destinations across all seven continents. Whether your heart’s already set on a particular place, or the world is your oyster, we hope that the following pages will give you all the inspiration you need to begin planning your perfect holiday. More information can be found at our website – wexas.com – though the best advice undoubtedly comes from talking to our destination specialists. expert knowledge It’s hard to overstate the value of talking to an expert when it comes to planning a holiday. All of our specialists have travelled extensively in the regions they specialise in and have often lived or worked there. They have a helpful, informed approach to planning holidays, and will offer you suggestions based on first-hand knowledge and an average of more than ten years’ experience in travel. tailor-made travel honest pricing Tailor-made travel is about designing We believe that it’s unfair to just show a holiday around you and your you ‘from’ prices that relate to the individual needs. Whatever your low season, when you may not want interests or requirements might be, to travel. That’s why we’ve indicated our specialists are on hand to help both low and high season prices. you arrange every aspect of your Even so, these are just guide prices holiday, from choosing your hotels and may not take into account peak and sightseeing tours, to arranging travel periods such as Christmas. private guides, transfers, visas and Your specialist will provide a quote travel insurance. based on your exact preferences. wexas.com USING THIS BROCHURE accommodation in this brochure As there is no universal system for grading hotels, we have applied our own grading system to the hotels and itineraries featured within this brochure. They are based on the opinion of our destination specialists, usually upon their first- hand experience of staying there themselves. ultra Ultra-luxury hotels that look to redefine the boundaries of experience, service and facilities (typically higher than 5 stars). deluxe Outstanding accommodation with excellent facilities and service, usually in a fantastic location (typically 5 stars). superior A high standard of accommodation with a good range of quality facilities, often in a good location (typically 4 stars). standard A good standard of clean and wexas extras meal inclusions comfortable accommodation with reasonable Wexas Experience Any meals included in the price of facilities (typically 3 stars). These signature experiences our suggested itineraries, whether encapsulate the very best of they’re part of a tour, a cruise, or a accommodation price guide a destination. Chosen by our hotel stay, are indicated at the end specialists, they give a unique insight of each day’s description using the £££££ – typically more than £400 into the people and places that make following symbols: per room per night our tailor-made holidays so special. ££££ – typically up to £400 per Breakfast room per night Upgrade your stay Lunch £££ – typically up to £300 per room Whether its a unique hotel stay or Dinner per night the chance to experience something ££ – typically up to £200 per room extraordinary, these recommended per night upgrades will help turn an £ – typically up to £100 per room per unforgettable trip into the holiday of night a lifetime. 020 7838 5957 usa | introduction USA Few countries rival the United States in its sheer scale, variety and incredible natural beauty. Far more than just an economic powerhouse, its city skylines, popular culture, food and drink, and the wonders of its national parks are recognisable the world over. From the Grand Canyon and the and glamour of Los Angeles and Wharf, there’s more than enough to Rocky Mountains to the Yellowstone Las Vegas. For a different pace, tempt even the most demanding of National Park and the wildlife-rich head south, where you’ll discover taste buds. Everglades, America’s outdoor legendary music in New Orleans and attractions are among the best and Memphis, relax on glorious beaches And the best way to explore this vast most beautiful in the world. in Florida and tuck into the best ribs country? From behind the wheel around at a Texan roadhouse diner. of a car. It’s no coincidence that It’s also impossible to ignore the the majority of our recommended bright lights of its great cities. Many And it’s not just the south where journeys are self-drives. Hit the American adventures have begun you’ll find great food. Whether it’s open road in a cadillac or convertible in New York City, where towering fine dining in New York and LA, a and explore the very best of the skyscrapers and innovative tasty Philly cheese steak or chilli dog country from the winding lanes of architecture form the backdrop to from a street stall, a steaming Maine New England to iconic road trips a roaring arts and culture scene, lobster or a hearty clam chowder such as Route 66 and California’s while others are drawn to the glitz from San Francisco’s Fisherman’s spectacular Pacific Coast Highway. wexas.com introduction | usa 1 West Coast (California & Pacific Park, the Rocky Mountains 6 Texas Northwest) are truly spectacular. As are With its remarkable size, Texas America’s West Coast rewards the famed canyons of Arizona, certainly packs a lot in. Enjoy visitors with everything from Colorado and Utah, which provide finger-licking food in the state sandy beaches, towering redwood some of America’s most striking capital, Dallas, before indulging forests and lush vineyards to landscapes. in lively and alternative Austin, the glamour of Hollywood and and journeys through the state’s the beauty of Oregon’s Crater 4 East Coast (New York State & cactus-studded deserts. Lake and California’s Yosemite Capital Region) National Park. The cities of New York and 7 Great Lakes Washington, d.c. provide the Located in the northeast, these 2 New England perfect contrast to scenic Finger immense bodies of freshwater Come autumn, New England turns Lakes, the sandy beaches of Long are home to the skylines of into a kaleidoscope of browns and Island and Virginia’s Shenandoah Chicago and Detroit and natural reds. Head to the coast for whale National Park. attractions including Michigan’s watch ing and enjoy excellent scenic Upper Peninsula . seafood while taking in the United 5 Florida & the Deep South States’ pioneering history. Take in the raw culture of New 8 Hawaii Orleans, relax on Florida’s sandy Surf’s up on this volcanic 3 Rockies & Canyons beaches and feast on barbecued archipelago in the heart of the A hotbed of authentic cowboy delights accompanied by the Pacific. Fringed by idyllic beaches culture and home to the mellifluous accent of bluegrass in it’s perfect for those seeking a magnificent Yellowstone National America’s southern states . welcoming island retreat. 020 7838 5957 usa | introduction when to visit key facts To avoid its humid summers, the east coast is best visited between May and June and, while the northeast Time zone gmt -5 hours Eastern Standard Time, is particularly beautiful in the winter, temperatures -6 hours Central Standard Time and -8 hours drop dramatically and storms are a regular occurrence Pacific Standard Time as Florida remains warm and sunny. In the south, while air conditioning is thankfully ubiquitous, watch out for Flying time from uk 8 hours to New York and the humid and wet summers. The west coast enjoys 11 hours to Los Angeles a particularly good climate with the best time to visit between April and October. For something special, Currency United States Dollar head to the natural attractions of New England and Yosemite for their autumnal changing of the guard. Capital city Washington d.c. Visas The us Visa Waiver Programme allows uk passport holders with a valid esta to visit the usa for up to 90 days Health Contact your local travel clinic for details of any vaccinations and health precautions prior to travel wexas.com introduction | usa GETTING THERE & AWAY American Airlines and British Airways have coordinated their flight schedules to offer customers a wider choice of destinations throughout the usa, with direct British Airways and American Airlines services to all major hubs and onward connections to hundreds more towns and cities across the country.